Book Description
There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.
But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape -- a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one ...
Customer Reviews:
Crime and Justice.......2007-08-29
Most of us think of crime and punishment as being linked. Donna Leon makes the case for justice following crime instead of punishment in this interesting debut novel in the Guido Brunetti series.
Where in most mystery novels, the story focuses on the crime or the investigation, Death at La Fenice instead develops the victim's character as its primary focus. Many fictional detectives consider knowing about the victim to be essential, but few mysteries pretty much focus on that one element to the exclusion of most other elements. I like character development, but I thought this approach was a little flawed in that without tapes, documents, and other character-created evidence you cannot really learn very much about a person who isn't alive during most of the story.
I liked the way that Venice played a role beyond being simply context by helping to define the story and the crime. As someone who loves Venice very much, a good part of the joy of this book came for me in references to locations I have visited.
Guido Brunetti is a most appealing detective. He's more like the private eyes in noir stories than he is a Venice police commissario, but that's all to the good. His family situation, being married to the daughter of a Venetian count, Paolo, also makes for amusing complications which are nicely developed in this story.
The crime is also offbeat enough to arouse interesting speculations among curious readers. During a performance of La Traviata, the opera's conductor, the world-famous Helmut Wellauer, is found dead after the second intermission. While hundreds had access to kill him, who had motive? It turns out that many had good motives. So how do you boil it down to find the criminal? That's quite difficult. Donna Leon plays fair and gives you all the clues you need to figure out what actually happened. From there, you'll have to decide what you would do.
Those who love opera will also enjoy the references to what makes for good opera and the politics behind the performances.
If you like to think of bureaucracies as inept and filled with incompetents, you'll enjoy meeting Guido's boss, Vice-Questore Giuseppe Patta. The relationship between Patta, the buffoon, and Brunetti is filled with much good humor that plays on Patta's strong inclination to do no work and to receive all credit for any successes.
The book's main drawback is that Wellauer is someone you won't have much sympathy for, and you'll enjoy even less learning about his bad habits. I'm sure that many crime victims are equally undesirable, but the novel labors a bit more than it might have with a victim about whom you could feel more neutral.
There are many fine novels in this series, and I do recommend you read this one. After all, you want to understand the context for the series don't you? Ah, Venice!
Brilliant.......2007-08-23
The mystery "who-done-it" genre is quite far out of my comfort zone, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the murder investigation and characterizations in this story. It started out as something I wanted to read strictly to absorb myself in the vividly drawn Veniciano setting, and turned out to be an entralling page-turner! What a pleasant surprise!
"The answer to his death had to be there, it always did".......2007-08-11
Nowadays there are a wide variety of whodunit mysteries to choose from, and the list definitely includes many good ones. But in order for me to label a series as a favorite it has to have an engaging main character and interesting sub plots. Donna Leon performs extremely well in these two categories. Vice-Commissario Guido Brunetti is one of the most intriguing detectives I have come across since Hercules Poirot. He is married, has two kids and his wife Paula is also a very appealing character. She is daughter of a Count, who is one of the richest persons in Venice and she likes to guess who the killer is at the beginning of each case. Leon spends some time on family matters that are entertaining and help make Brunetti a more real character.
In this first book of the series, the Vice-Commissario is summoned to the Opera, were Helmut Wellauer, a famous conductor has been murdered. His body was discovered during an intermezzo and the cause of dead is later determined to be poisoning by cyanide. Since there was a lot of people backstage during the performance, the list of suspects is not particularly short. The fact that the victim was not a pleasant man does nothing to make things easier for Brunetti. For example, there are rumors that Wellauer was a Nazi supporter during World War II, and he was also a homophobic.
The list of suspects includes the young widow, who may have lied about being with the conductor right before he died. The director of the play, Franco Salvatore, also makes the cut, since he is a homosexual and the conductor broke a promise regarding using one of Salvatore's friends as a singer in the opera. Another main suspect is Flavia Petrelli, the soprano who seems to be hiding a secret together with his friend and assistant, the American Ms. Lynch. As the story moves along, other names will make it to this suspect list, with the common characteristic that all their stories and personalities are enthralling.
Leon delivers a well-constructed mystery, and even though the solution is not totally surprising, there are aspects of it that will certainly shock any reader. Besides that, we get a great depiction of the culture in Venice and the idiosyncrasies of the characters portrayed. Brunetti is an extremely unusual detective, he is extremely proud of his culture and knowledge and interested in showing it off. There are also a fair amount of politics within the police department involving Brunetti's supervisor, and I am looking forward to the next book to find out more about this topic.
I have trouble thinking of anyone who likes mysteries who would not enjoy this book. And if a captivating main character and a variety of sub plots make the story more appealing to you, then I am certain you will like this series even more. Those that like opera and classical music will find allure in the fact that this installment of the series includes a fair amount on these topics. Highly recommended.
MUCH more than a mystery novel.......2007-07-23
If you see this as merely a mystery novel than you are missing the best part of Leon's work. Leon is a true artist. She paints pictures so clearly that you feel you are there rowing through the canals of Venice alongside them, sharing their meals with them. You can actually almost smell and taste the surroundings.
And THAT'S STILL NOT THE HALF OF IT- she also is such a keen observer of the peculiarities of human nature, and the differences of these found in different cultures (Leon has lived and worked in countries around the world)- that she picks up on minute details that even a seasoned psychologist might miss. What's more, she can so concisely describe these observations that you will be amazed at reading them. She notes the type of thing that you may have noted yourself in someone you've known, but never been able to put a finger on exactly what it was, much less, know how to put it into words.
Some of her observations are truly HILARIOUS. I have found myself laughing out loud throughout the book. So much so, in fact, that I realized that it is almost as much of a comic work of art as it a mystery.
Last but not least, she also has an accute understanding of the ITALIAN CULTURE and language (having lived in Venice for many years). If you have any interest in Italian culture at all, then you will no doubt love these books. Here again, she hits the nail on the head and will surprise you that someone could be so adept at noticing the details that she does.
AS IF YOU NEEDED MORE REASON TO PICK UP THIS BOOK...Leon also has an uncanny knack for things that are human nature in general- the relationship between the detective and his family...and so many other things. You don't have to be Italian or like mysteries to appreciate the characters she creates. I think everyone could read her books and smile at how one of the characters reminds them of someone that they know.
I could go on, but really you just need to give these books a try. I can't recommend them enough.
Insightful Venetian Murder Mystery.......2007-06-27
Donna Leon, An American expatriate living in Venice, started writing her Venetian Guido Brunetti mysteries in 1992, and this is the first in the series. (She's up to number sixteen now.) Brunetti is a Commissario of police in that enchanted city. In this one don't expect a lot of action, chase scenes, gory violence, and melodramatic suspense. Rather look for subtlety of character and humor as, oh so slowly and deliberately, the sleuth weaves his way through a case involving the murder of a celebrated German orchestra conductor at the Venice opera house, La Fenice.
Leon knows the sexual intrigues and cupidity of the city's social life as well as the glories of the city's architecture and art. A myriad of witnesses come vividly to life.
Her detective has a bright and loving wife and two great kids. In a drowning and sinking city, a caring detective soldiers on. The mystery moves at a measured pace, but bear with it, and it will reward you
The Daemon in Our Dreams
Nine Lives Too Many
The Rice Queen Spy
Average customer rating:
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Death at Le Fenice
Donna Leon
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
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Similar Items:
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Dressed for Death (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)
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Through a Glass, Darkly: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
ASIN: 0786111933 |
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
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De morte (Quaderni della Fenice)
Ottiero Ottieri
Manufacturer: U. Guanda
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 8877469773 |
Customer Reviews:
5 of 6: The setup for Stormbringer........2003-01-28
Michael Moorcock, The Bane of the Black Sword (DAW, 1977)
The fifth of the six classic Elric novels picks up, as is usual with these books, where the fourth leaves off. Moorcock sets the last pieces of the puzzle into place (and here, we get a chance to see how everything that has come before is building to the climactic novel, Stormbringer), introducing us to Zarozinia, the love of Elric's life (and most of his motivation for continuing on the path upon which he was set in The Vanishing Tower). Much of this is setup for Stormbringer, but that's in no way to say this isn't good stuff. Once again, Moorcock takes his already intriguing concepts that he's built up throughout the series (unique hero, solid motivation, the excellent concept of the Eternal Champion, et al) and adds a few more twists and turns, to make them even more intriguing than they already were. Unfortunately, the series' main problem-its penchant for not going into detail on some of the truly fun stuff mentioned (e.g., the Forest of Troos, in the barren land of Org, where Elric and Zarozinia meet, both trying like mad to avoid the denizens of the forest)-is here in spades. But there's enough detail for the reader to get the general gist of what's going on and eventually hope Moorcock will write some stories set in Elric's world that have to do with these ancillary details. This would not be unprecedented; a story with Elric's friend Rackhir as its main character is included as an epilogue to one of the books, for example.
There is one other annoying thing about the series I haven't yet touched on. It's ultimately annoying that Elric, no matter what he's faced with, has some form of supernatural ally who can help him with it. (You're attacked by lizardmen who are unaffected by normal weapons? Call on the god of the insects and get the help of millions of mosquitoes!) Never fails. This particular convention pops up in a number of places in the series, not just here.
Still, overall, the book is good, it's readable, and the payoff, in Stormbringer, is astounding. ****
dope.......2002-09-08
Interesting monster and magic users. Cool plot. Different from the pompous books of Terry brroks or the rambling of tolkien.
Strikes the perfect balance between fun and serious thought.
Adventure and plot.
Locations and personalities.
No boring social justice themes or about how hard life was etc.
Awesome action.
Monstrous summonings.
Great stuff, stear clear of anything with Von Bek or Erekose and Moorcock will treat you well. M favorite fantasy author bar none.
Not My Favorite Elric Story.......2001-12-16
I have always greatly enjoyed the tragic saga of Elric of Melnibone, the doomed Champion Eternal and, because of this, had no problem picking up this book and devouring it. But, as I read on, I found that it was my interests in Elric as a character and not the actual plot that kept my attention. The plot was rather similar in nature to most of the others and, because of this, quite predictable. It also left little in the way of deep explaination for Elric's actions at the end. (you understood what was happening and why, but you just didn't feel it) This book does little to sour my tastes on the saga as a whole, but it was not my favorite installment of the series.
Not My Favorite Elric Story.......2001-12-16
I have always greatly enjoyed the tragic saga of Elric of Melnibone, the doomed Champion Eternal and, because of this, had no problem picking up this book and devouring it. But, as I read on, I found that it was my interests in Elric as a character and not the actual plot that kept my attention. The plot was rather similar in nature to most of the others and, because of this, quite predictable. It also left little in the way of deep explaination for Elric's actions at the end. (you understood what was happening and why, but you just didn't feel it) This book does little to sour my tastes on the saga as a whole, but it was not my favorite installment of the series.
Outstanding.......1998-04-14
I was not a fantasy fan before I read this series. Now I am hooked. Too bad they are not all this good. It has qualities that writers of any genre would envy. Read them all... you will not be disappointed. Very fluid delivery, crisp, entertaining, and engrossing.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
The second of the Doubleday editions, this contains The Vanishing Tower, The Bane of the Black Sword and Stormbringer.
The Vanishing Tower
This book is also known as The Vanishing Tower. Elric is not a fan of the sorcerer Theleb K'aarna. In fact he is so much not a fan he would like to introduce him to the Black Blade, in an up close, personal, and body cavity penetrating kind of manner.
He is having a lot of problems getting to him though, until he gets help from The Sleeping Sorceress.
4 out of 5
The Bane of the Black Sword
The Bane of the Black Sword is also a collection.
The Stealer of Souls
Kings in Darkness
The Flamebringers (also called The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams)
To Rescue Tanelorn
The first three are adventures with Elric and Moonglum, and the latter is actually a story of Rackhir the Red Archer, one of the worthy individuals the Eternal Champion meets from time to time.
4.5 out of 5
Stormbringer
Stormbringer is the end of this Elric cycle. Many times Elric has struggle with his symbiotic relationship with the powerful demonsword Stormbringer. It gives him energy, but has caused him to destroy those close to him, earning him the sobriquets Kinslayer and Womanslayer, at times.
He finally faces the Dukes of Hell, again, and must summon all his creativity, and dig deep into the last of his bag of tricks, not the least of which are the Dragons of Melnibone.
This is the end for this Eternal Champion, as he faces his final destiny, and his place in the multiverse.
5 out of 5
Amazing.......2007-01-22
This book truly does leave you with a feeling of emptiness. But, combined with the 1st saga, it truly has left an impression of beauty entertwined with sadness that has stayed with me for over a decade. I have read this series 3 times now. A masterpiece. Truly one of the greatest fantasy stories ever written.
Add this to your collection.......2004-07-20
I've only read the Elric saga part 2 and that was a few years back, now I'm looking to read the rest of the series. I've read fantasy/sci-fi all my life and I would rate this saga right up there with Terry Brooks, Shannara series, Raymond Feists, Riftwar saga and Jordons, Wheel of Time Saga. If you enjoy any of the above this book is money well spent but good luck even the used bookstores recognize it's popularity and ask above average prices. It's a must have for my collection.
Disappointed.......2004-06-11
After reading Part 1 of this series, I had mixed feelings about the characters and storyline as a whole. Now, having finished the 2nd part I have to say that I am left with a rather disappointed feeling.
Elric is constantly pitying himself and making foolish decisions throughout the story. These are interspersed with noble acts that in themselves are unmoving. The author seems to try so hard to make Elric out to be an anguished hero with a dark side, but the attempts are so obvious and the subplots are so poorly developed that you really begin to not care about any of it.
Midway through the book, the flow of the storyline seems completely broken as Elric moves from one place to the other, encountering random events that seem to have no purpose other than to give him yet another poor excuse to demonstrate how anguished and tormented he is.
I have read a good number of fantasy books before this one, but this is the first where I began to feel so absolutely detached from the hero that I really no longer cared what happend to him.
Average customer rating:
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Bane Of Black Sword
Michael Moorcock
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425085031 |
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
The Bane of the Black Sword is also a collection.
The Stealer of Souls
Kings in Darkness
The Flamebringers (also called The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams)
To Rescue Tanelorn
The first three are adventures with Elric and Moonglum, and the latter is actually a story of Rackhir the Red Archer, one of the worthy individuals the Eternal Champion meets from time to time.
Average customer rating:
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The bane of the black sword
Manufacturer: Panther
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HTT8MU |
Average customer rating:
- Worth Hunting For
- a very intriguing book
|
Mont Can't Gold (Magic Quest, No 4)
Paul R. Fisher
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Magic & Wizards
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General
| Science Fiction
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ASIN: 0441536026 |
Customer Reviews:
Worth Hunting For.......2005-01-05
I too have had the pleasure of reading this book. The main character has to win the approval of seven fates. He does this in a series of interesting ways. It's difficult not to lose track of time while reading Paul R. Fischer's work. I was first introduced to this author when I picked up "The Ash Staff" at my school library. I didn't put it down 'til I had finished it. TAS was the first book I'd ever read that captured my attention so completely. That experience was repeated with each one of his other books. "The Ash Staff", "The Hawks of Fellheath", and "The Princess and the Thorn" are very good little series for any young adult. "Mont Cant Gold" is separate story and characters all its own, but is just as absorbing as the previous three books. Do your child a favor and give them something a step up from Babysitter's Club or R.L. Stine. Of course, if your child reads at all...Congratulations!
a very intriguing book.......1999-05-10
i read this book six years ago. one of my teachers lent it to me, and it took me a bit to get into it, but once i did, i couldn't put it down. i can't seem to find it anywhere, no bookstores, no libraries and it's beyond me because it is my favorite book along with catcher in the rye. it's disappointing that no one else i know seems to have read it because i think it is a masterpiece.
Average customer rating:
- Great resource
- great cookbook
- Disappointed in cross-selling
- Fabulous Cookbook
- perhaps if you've never cooked?
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Extraordinary Foods for the Everyday Kitchen
Lori Kornblum , and
Bruce Semon
Manufacturer: Wisconsin Institute of Nutrition, LLP
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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An Extraordinary Power to Heal
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Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook, Revised 2nd Edition: Everything You Need to Know About Prevention, Treatment & Diet
Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0967005779 |
Book Description
Extraordinary Foods for the Everyday Kitchen, by Lori Kornblum, and Bruce Semon, M.D., Ph.D. is a companion cookbook to An Extraordinary Power to Heal. Extraordinary Foods is completely free of yeast, wheat/gluten, milk/casein, and common allergens such as soy, corn, peanuts and rye. This cookbook is also completely kosher and sugar free. Containing more than 125 new, original recipes and more than 60 menus including recipes from both Extraordinary Foods and our first book, Feast Without Yeast:4 Stages to Better Health, the recipes and menus will astound and amaze you at how many unbelievably good tasting foods you can make with limited ingredients. This book goes beyond Feast Without Yeast, including recipes for tacos, pizza, salsa, felafel, many new salad dressings, mayonnaise, and other delicious foods that most people thought they had to give up on a yeast free, wheat free, dairy free diet. Extraordinary Foods uses no artificial ingredients and no "exotic" ingredients that require expeditions to specialty stores. All ingredients are whole foods, vegetables, and easy to find.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource.......2007-10-10
This is a great companion for "Feast Without Yeast." In fact, there are some menu suggestions that come straight from the other book. It basically takes the general recipes from the other book, and takes them further.
great cookbook.......2007-02-07
good info on ingredients in many products.
easy recipes with few ingredients.
learned how to delete many foods with yeast/wheat/gluten.
could have some more variations of types of meals-especially for vegans, ie: avoiding lamb/veal.
Disappointed in cross-selling.......2007-01-08
I feel ripped off.
I got this book because I am on a yeast- and gluten-free program. What a disappointment to find out that meal plans include recipes not included in this book, but from Kornblum's and Semon's other books.
I also agree with other readers that a plain baked potato or a salad with a lemon juice and oil dressing are no-brainers...but would understand if this was a "go to" book for other reasons.
But it isn't. Other readers: beware that unless you have the authors' other books, you just won't see the benefit in this one.
Fabulous Cookbook.......2006-02-22
Extraordinary Foods is a fabulous follow-up cookbook to the authors' first cookbook, Feast Without Yeast. But while Feast Without Yeast has some foods that contain wheat and milk, Extraordinary Foods is totally free of those allergens. A few of the recipes may seem obvious, but I think these are included to fill in the gaps in their very helpful menus at the back of the book. What I love about this nice little cookbook is that it has loads of wonderful soups, salad dressings, and even fancier foods like tacos and pizza--foods really hard to get on a limited diet. The menus are extremely helpful, especially for parties and holidays. Some of my favorite recipes are Felafel, Heavenly Dressing and Joan's Red Onion Dressing. I would urge everyone to try this!
perhaps if you've never cooked?.......2005-11-20
This was the first 'cook book' I purchased after being diagnosed with asthma and mutiple food allergies (including wheat, milk and peanuts).
What a disappointment. I don't know how they can print a plain baked potato as a recipe?
This book might be helpful if you've never cooked before, but for anyone that knows how to bake a potato or steam vegetables it's probably a waste of money.
Books:
- Death du Jour
- Death in a Strange Country
- Death in the Long Grass
- Death of a Cad (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries)
- Diagnosis Murder #6: The Dead Letter (Diagnosis Murder)
- Drop Shot (Myron Bolitar Mysteries)
- Every Dead Thing
- Everywhere That Mary Went
- Eyes of Prey
- Faceless Killers
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